Yoneo kiba



Feb. 14, 1956 YONEO KlBA HINGE STRUCTURE FOR MOLDED BOXES Filed May 28, 1954 7 fl ww 2) 0 United States Patent HINGE STRUCTURE FOR MOLDED BOXES Yoneo Kiba, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Continental Plastics Corp., a corporation of iliinois Application May 28, 1954, Serial No. 433,014 8 Claims. (Cl. 16-428) This invention relates to a hinge structure for molded boxes. More particularly, it relates to a hinge structure for receptacles of the plastic type.

A prime object of this invention is to provide an improved hinge structure for plastic boxes, the structure permitting a cover and receptacle to be readily assembled in relative hinging relation in order to provide a tially inseparable, or permanent, hinge.

Still another object is to provide a substantially permanent hinge construction for a cover and receptacle assembly, the hinge structure being particularly adapted to plastic boxes having an inherent resiliency which permits the cover to be assembled with the receptacle by utilizing the said resiliencyto permit ease of assembly and to .provide relative permanency between the hinge connections of the assembly. I i

- 'Still another object is to provide a hinge assembly for plastic boxes, the assembly including stop provisions wherein the cover may be attached to the receptacle without the use of special assembly, fixtures, and tools.

A more specific object of the invention is'to provide a hinge assembly for hinging a plastic cover to a plastic receptacle, the receptacle including a relatively flexible wall'portion supporting a stop which is adapted to provide a bearing surface for a pintle which is connected to the top, or cover, the flexible wall portion being designed to flex to permit the entrance of the pintle into the final permanent assembly. v I

These and further objects will become more readily apparent from a reading of the specification when taken in connection with the accompanying sheet of drawing:

Figure l is a perspective view of 'a receptacle and cover assembly embodying the invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged detailed perspective view of a hinge structure embodying the invention;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary plan view of a portion or a hinge structure, taken'isubstantially along theline 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4' is a cross-sectional view of a portion of a hinge structure showing a pintle and hinge hook just prior to assembly of the parts i i Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4 showing the pintle and hinge hook in assembly; and

Figure 6 is a perspective view of a modified hinge structure incorporating a modified embodiment of the invention.

The present hinge structure is an improvementover my Patent No. 2,677,479, patented May 4, 1954. A plastic box 10 is shown in Figure 1. The plastic box 10 includes a receptacle ll'which is adapted to be closed by means of a cover 12. The cover 12 includes a side wall 13 which is inthe same plane as a side wall 14 on g the receptacle 11. As indicated in Figure 1, the plastic box 10 includes two hinge constructions for suitably hinging the cover to the box; and since these hinge structure are similar, reference will be had to only one.

The hinge structures shown, each comprise a pintle support 15 which is integrally formed with the cover 12,

substan-' members 17.

the said support 15 projecting outwardly, as best indicated in Figure 2. The pintle support includes a pair of cylindrical pintles 16 which. project laterally outwardly from opposite sides of the, pintle support 15, the pintles 16 being substantially parallelwith respect to the side wall 13 and extending below theupper edge of the side wall 14 in overlapping relation.

the wall 14 of the receptacle 11 is provided with laterally spaced hookmembers 17 integrally formed with said side-wall. The hook members 17 each. comprise bight portions 18' and an inner wall 19 which is laterally spaced with respect to the wall 14 and extends substantially parallel thereto. The side wall 140i the receptacle 11 is also provided with a relatively thin flexible wall section 20 which is positioned between the book The thin flexible Wall section 20 includes an integral stop, generally designated at 21. The stop 21 includes a substantially fiat upper bearing surface 22 which is disposed substantially in the same plane as the upper edge of the side wall 14. The stop 22 also includes a tapered portion 23 which extends from the extreme outer edge of the bearing surface 22 downwardly toward the wall 14. I

The embodiment shown in Figure 6 is, in all respects, similar and includes the same elements, with the exception that a protruding portion 24 is provided on the side wall 13 of the "cover 12 and the pintle support is con nected to said protruding portion 24 and extends downwardly with respect thereto.

The hinge structures are; formed for final assembly in the manner indicated after they leave the forming molds.

pintles 16 are also now in sliding relation with respect to the walls 19 of the hook members 17, and the flexible wall 20 is forced apart relative to the Walls 19 so that the cylindrical pintle 16 will be placed in a position between the bearing surface 22 and the bights 18 of the hooks 17. Immediately after this position is assumed by the pintles, the lower edge of the pintle support, which forms a bearing surface, is in the position indicated in Figure 5* and in'bearing relation with respect to the surface 22 of the stop 21. At this point, the flexible wall section 20 has returned to its normal position, and the pintle and pintle support are now positioned-permanently in hinging relation. Since the bearing surface 22 is flat, it formsa definite stop to prevent the pintle from becoming disassembled with respect to the hook portions 17. Thus the cover and receptacle can very quickly be snapped into fully assembled and permanent assembly. The term permanent is used in a relative sense, of course, since by extreme distortion on the wall section 20, it is conceivable that the cover can be disassembled from the receptacle. However, this is not intended to be done since the cover and receptacle are intended as permanent assemblies; and it is desired that the assembly be so made that disassembly of the parts is difiicult, rather than desirable. It is'also a factor that immediately after the cover and receptacle leave the molds, they are assembled while the plastic is much more flexible than it would be after aperiod of age hardening.

'Thus it can be seen that an improved hinge assembly, particularly adapted for plastic boxes, has been provided.

a The hinge assembly may be quickly assembled by the operator after .the plastic-molding operation has taken place. ment of the elements, and disassembly is diflicult; thus,

Patented Feb. 14, 1956' Facility of assembly is provided by the arrange-' f L? in effect, providing a substantially permanent hinge structure.

The modified embodiment shown in Figure 6 functions in the same manner in the assembly of the parts, and like reference characters have been applied, with the exception that the pintle support 15 does not-project outwardly with respect to the wall 14, but is, in effect, connected to an extension or projection'24 of the said wall. The pintle andhook parts are maintained in assembly in the same manner, and are assembled as indicated-in the preferred embodiment above.

The objects of the invention have thus been fully achieved, and it must be understood that changes'and modifications may be made in the invention without departing from the spiritthereof nor from the scope as defined in the appended claims.

' What is claimed is:

1. A hinge structure for molded plastic boxes including a receptacle and a cover therefor, the receptacle and cover having side" walls in substantially the same plane; comprising, a pintle support, fixedly carried on one side wall of saidcover,'and' projecting outwardly therefrom, said pintlesupporthaving a bearing surface, pintle members supported on 'said' pintle support, said. pintle members projecting outwardly from opposite sides of said pintle support and extending'sub'stantially parallel to the wall of said cover, a pair of integral laterally spaced hook members on the side wall of said receptacle, each hook member having a bight portion integral with a portion of the upper edge of that wall of the receptacle adjacent the pintle upport carrying Wall ofthe cover, each ofsaid hook members having an inner wall spaced from and extending substantially parallel to the side wall of the receptacle and extending below the upper edge of said wall, said side wall of 'said receptacle having a portion disposed between said hook portions of relatively thinner dimension than said side wall to provide a flexible wall section, a stop member integral with said wall section and projecting outwardly with respect thereto between said hook members, said stop member having a flat upper wall substantially in the plane of the upper edge of said receptacle side wall and a tapered outer wall portion tapering downwardly toward the side wall of the receptacle, the width of said pintle support being less than the lateral spacing of said hook members, the diameter of said pintle members being less than the spacing between said walls of the hook members and the wall of-the receptacle, said pintle members being movable into an asembled position between the stop and the bight portions whereupon during said movement toward said position said pintle members engage the inner walls of the-hooks in sliding relation and the pintle support engages the stop in sliding relation whereupon the wall section-flexes inwardly to permit movement of the pintle'members toward said bight members whereupon said wallsection-returns to said normal position and said bearing surface of the pintle support is in bearing relation to-the flat upper wall of said stop and the cover and said receptacle are substantially permanently assembled in hinging relation.

2. A hinge structure formolded plastic boxes including a receptacle and a cover therefor, the receptacle and cover having side walls in substantially the same plane; comprising, a'pintlesupport, fixedly carried'on one. side wall of said cover, said pintle support having a bearing surface, pintle members supported on said pintle support, said pintle. members projecting outwardly from opposite sides of said pintle support and extending substantially parallel to the wall of said cover, a-pair of integral laterally spaced hook members on the side wall of said receptacle, each hook member having a bight portion integral with a portion of the upperedge of that wall of the receptacle adjacent the pintle support carryingwall of the cover, each of said hookmembers-havingan inner wall-spaced from and extending substantially parallel tothe side wall ofthe receptacle and extending below the upperedge of said wall,

said side Wall of said receptacle having a portion disposed betweensaid hook portions of relatively thinnerdimension than said side wall to provide a flexible wall section, a stop member integral with said wall section and projecting outwardly with respect thereto between said hook members, said stop member having a flat upper wall substantially in the plane of the upper edge of said receptacle side wall, the width of said pintle support being less than the lateral spacing of said hook members, the diameter of said pintle members being less than the spacing between said walls otthe hook-members and the wall-ofthe receptacle, said'pintle members being 'movable'into an assembled position' between the stopand thebightportions whereupon during said movement toward said position said pintle members engage theinner'walls'of the hook in sliding relation and the pintle support engages the stop in sliding relation whereupon the wall section flexes inwardly to permit movement of the pintle members toward said bight members whereupon said wall section returns to said normal position andsaid'bearing surface of-the; pintle'support is in bearing relation to the fiat upper wall of said stop and the cover and'said receptacle are substantially permanently assembled in hinging relation.

3. A hinge structure for molded plastic boxes including a receptacle and a cover therefor, the receptacle and cover having side walls in substantially the same plane; comprising, a pintle support, fixedly carried on one side wall of'said' cover, said pintle support having a bearing surface, pintle members supported on said pintle support, said pintle members projecting outwardly from opposite sides of said pintle support and extending substantially parallel to the wall of said cover, a pair of integral laterally spaced hook members on the side wall of said receptacle, each hook member having abight portion integral with a portion of the upper edge of thatwall of the receptacle adjacent the pintle support carrying wall of the cover, each of said hook members having an inner wall spaced from and extending substantially parallel to the side wall of the receptacle and extending below the upper edge of said Wall, said side wall of said receptacle having a flexible portion disposed between said hook portions, a stop member integral with said wall section and projecting outwardly with respect thereto between said hook members, said stop member having a flat upper wall substantially in the plane of the upper edge of-said receptacle side wall, the width of said pintle support being less than the lateral spacing of said hook members,'the diameter of said pintle members-being less than the spacing between said walls of the hook members and the wall of the receptacle, said pintle members being movable'into an assembled position between the stop and the bight portions whereupon during said movement toward said position said pintle members engage the inner walls oftbe hooks in sliding relation and the pintle support engages the stop in sliding relation whereupon the flexibleportion flexesinwardly to permit movement of the pintle members toward said bight members whereupon said flexible portion returns to said normal position and said bearing surface of the pintle support is in bearing relation to the flat upper wall of said stop and the cover-and said receptacle are substantially permanently assembled in hinging relation.

4. A hinge structure for molded plastic boxes including a receptacle and a cover therefor, the receptacle and cover having side walls in substantially the sameplane; comprising, a pintle support, fixedly carried ononeside wall of said cover, said pintle support having a bearing surface, pintle members supported on said pintle support,

' saidpintle members projecting outwardly from opposite sides'of said pintle support and extending substantially parallel to the wall of said cover, a pair of laterally spaced hook members on the-side Wallof said receptacle,

each hookmember having a bight portion connected to a portion of the upper edge of that wall of the receptacle adjacentthe pintle support carrying wall of the cover,

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each of said hook membershaving an inner wall spaced of said wall, said side wall of said receptacle having a portion disposed between said'hook portions of relatively thinner dimension than said side wall to provide a flexible wall section, a stop member integral with said wall section and projectingoutwardly with respect thereto between said hook members, said stop member having a flat upper wall and a tapered outer wall portion tapering downwardly toward the side wall of the receptacle, the width of said pintle support being less than the lateral spacing of said hook members, the diameter of said pintle members being less than the spacing between said walls of the hook members and the wall of the receptacle, said pintle members being movable into an assembled position between the stop and the bight portions whereupon during said movement toward said position said pintle members engage the inner walls of the hooks in sliding relation and the pintle support engages the stop in sliding relation whereupon the wall section flexes inwardly to permit movement of the pintle members toward said bight members whereupon said wall section returns to said normal position and said bearing surface of the pintle support is in bearing relation to the flat upper wall of said stop and the cover and said receptacle are substantially permanently assembled in hinging relation.

5. A hinge structure for molded plastic boxes including a receptacle and a cover therefor, the receptacle and cover having side walls in substantially the same plane; comprising, a pintle support, fixedly carried on one side members on the side wall of said receptacle, each book member having a bight portion integral with a portion of the upper edge of that wall of the receptacle adjacent the pintle support carrying wall of the cover, each of said hook members having an inner wall spaced from and extending substantially parallel to the side wall of the receptacle and extending below'the upper edge of said wall, a stop member mounted onsaid wall section between said hook members,'said stop section having an elongated flat upper bearing surface substantially parlel to the upper edge of the side wall of the receptacle, a tapered surface on said stop extending from the outermost edge of said fiat bearing surface inwardly toward the receptacle, the diameter of said pintle members being less than the distance between the walls of said hooks and the wall of the receptacle, said pintle support being of lesser width than the lateral spacing between said hook members, said pintle members being movable into an assembled position between the stop and the bight members whereupon during said movement toward said position the pintle members engage the walls of the hook members in sliding relation and said pintle supv port engages the tapered surface of the stop in relative wall of said cover, said pintle support having a bearing surface, pintle members supported on said pintle support, said pintle members projecting outwardly from opposite sides of said pintle support and extending substantially parallel to the wall of said cover, a pair of laterally spaced hook members on the side wall of said receptacle, each hook member having a bight portion connected to a portion of the upper edge of that wall of the receptacle adjacent the pintle support carrying wall of the cover, each of said hook members having an inner wall spaced from and extending substantially parallel to the side wall of the receptacle and extending below the upper edge of said wall, a stop member integral with said wall sec tion and projecting outwardly with respect thereto .between said hook members, said stop member having a flat upper wall, the width of said pintle support being less than the lateral spacing of said hook members, the diameter of said pintle members being less than the spacing between said walls of the hook members and the wall of the receptacle, said pintle members being movable into an assembled position between the stop and the bight portions whereupon during said movement to ward said position said pintle members engage the inner walls of the hooks in sliding relation and the pintle support engages the stop in sliding relation whereupon the wall of the receptacle flexes inwardly to permit movement of the pintle members toward said bight members whereupon said wall returns to said normal position and said bearing surface of the pintle support is in bearing relation to the flat upper wall of said stop and the cover and said receptacle are substantially permanently assembled in hinging relation.

6. A hinge structure for molded plastic boxes including a receptacle and a cover therefor, the receptacle and cover having side walls in substantially the same plane; comprising, a pintle support, fixedly carried on one side wall of said cover, and projecting outwardly therefrom, said pintle support having a'bearing surface, pintle members supported on said pintle support, each pintle member having a bearing surface, said pintle members projecting outwardly from opposite sides of said pintle support and extending substantially parallel to the wall of said cover, a pair of integral laterally spaced book sliding engagement whereupon said side wall of the receptacle flexes inwardly to permit entrance of the pintles to the assembled position whereupon said wall returns to normal position, each pintle bearing surface is in hearing relation to the bearing surface of the stop and the cover and receptacle are substantially permanently assembled.

7. A hinge structure for moldedplastic boxes includ ing a receptacle and a cover therefor, the receptacle and cover having side walls in substantially the same plane; comprising, pintle means carried by the side wall of the cover, said pintle means including a bearing support extending substantially parallel to the side wall of said cover, said support having a bearing surface, hook means carried by the side wall of the receptacle, said hook means having an inner wall portion spaced laterally from the side wall of the receptacle and a bight portion connected to said wall of the receptacle, a stop member on the side wall of the receptacle adjacent said hook means and adjacent the upper edge of the side wall of the receptacle, said stop member having a fiat upper bearing edge substantially adjacent the upper edge of said side wall, a tapered surface on said stop member extending from the outermost edge of the bearing edge in tapering relation downwardly toward said side wall of the receptacle, the diameter of said pintle means being less thanthe distance between the wall of the hook means and the wall of the receptacle, said pintle means being movable into an assembled position between the stop and the bight whereupon during said movement toward said position the pintle means engages the inner wall of the hook means and said stop and flexes the wall of the receptacle to permit entry of said pintle means into assembled position whereupon the bearing surface of the pintle means engages the bearing edge of said stop in bearing relation and said cover and receptacle are maintained in substantially'permanent hinging relation.

8. A hinge structure for molded plastic boxes including a receptacle and a cover therefor, the receptacle and cover having side walls in substantially the same plane; comprising, pintle means carried by the side wall of the cover, said pintle means having a bearing support extending substantially parallel to the side wall of said cover, said bearing support including a bearing surface, hook means carried by the side wall of the receptacle, said hook means having an inner wall portion spaced laterally from the side walls and a bight portion connected to the side wall of the receptacle, a stop member on the side wall of the receptacle adjacent said hook means and adjacent the upper edge of the side wall of the receptacle, said stop member having a flat upper bearing edge substantially in the plane of the upper edge ofthe side wall of the-receptacle, a tapered surface on s aicit stop meiin ber e litefiding from the outermost edge of the bearing su'rfiace in tapering tfelati'on downwardly tOWQ ifd-ithE SidC Wall of the receptacle; thediameterv of saidpintle means being less thani the distance between the wall of. the hook means and the side wall of the receptacle, sa'idfpintle means being movable into an assembled position between the stop and the bight 'whereupon dining said movement toward said; position the pintle "means engages the inner wall 'of the hook means and said step and'flexes a portionof the molded plastic box to permit entry of sid pintle means into assembled fiosition whfeupo'nthe bearihg silff ace of the heat ing siipporfeh'gages "the beefing edge off'said s't'op in beating relation and'siideoyei'ahd'feeeptale are r'niin- I 2,508,951 Kazimier jMay 23, ,195'0 2,527,318 Magnns Oct. 24, 1950 2,637,460 Yates May 5, 1953 

